and remained a fortnight by his bed-side. I had never before enjoyed the privilege of being at the bed-side of a true Christian, and hearing him converse freely on the present and the future. . . . I found him very weak and suffering much bodily pain and great oppression in the chest, with loss of sleep and appetite... When he felt himself rather more at ease, he was cheerful, and even lively. He would then narrate many very interesting passages in his life.

On the 14th of July I returned home; and after that he lived six weeks. Some days after my departure a young man from C. called upon him; having no pressing engagement, and seeing how much the venerable man needed assistance, he offered to remain with him and nurse him. This office he performed with much affection and fidelity to the period of his decease. On August 10th Boos dictated his last letter to me, in which he took leave of us. After alluding to his approaching end, he added, 'I would gladly take leave by letter of my teacher, SAILER, but as I am unable, I beg that you will thank him in my stead for his instructions and exertions by which he taught me in my youth to know the Father and the Son, and thus to find everlasting life. Thank him too, for his love, help, advice, and consolations in my sufferings and tribulations. entreat also his forgiveness for all the trouble which, without intending it, I have occasioned him in this life. The venerable bishop Homer has also protected me to the end of my life;

I

and the other clergy have treated me with love and esteem, for which I return them my thanks with hearty benediction, on leaving this world.'" This letter was subscribed by himself.

"On the 29th of August, ten minutes before five in the afternoon, he died, after a short struggle, gently and quietly, having uttered the words, 'Lord Jesus, into thy hands I commend my spirit.'"

Such was the death of this remarkable man. His whole life had been a succession of sufferings and persecutions, while he never ceased to proclaim the great salvation with undaunted courage, in a manner peculiarly forcible and original. God leads extraordinary men through extraordinary ways, which common persons, even though pious, cannot understand.

The friend in whose arms he died, caused a simple wooden cross to be placed over his grave, with the inscription:

Here rests the Reverend MARTIN Boos, aged 63. He died in the Lord. Rev. xiv. 13.

The glen in which he found a grave, and probably those who prepared it and placed his remains in it, knew not what kind of man he was; but at the resurrection, when it will

appear what we shall be," his true character will be manifested; for then the righteous shall "shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars, for ever and ever," (Dan. xii. 3.)

Sketch of Boos's character and labours-Concluding remarks.

THE following brief sketch of Boos's character and labours is contained in a letter which has been received from the Rev. JOHANNES GOSSNER, while the foregoing pages have been passing through the press:—

"Through the agency of Boos, numbers beyond calculation in the Roman Catholic church, both clergy and laity, were awakened, enlightened, and converted; many of whom are still to this day continuing to live and labour for the Lord, and in whose labours he still lives. He was indeed a real reformer; not so much, it is true, from without, by introducing a new form, but in the Roman Catholic church, by awakening and confirming faith in Christ for us and in us . . . . . I am convinced that he was the instrument in the hand of the Lord of awakening and spreading a true life of faith in Germany. The Lord placed him as a light on a candlestick, at which thousands lighted their dim or expiring lamp. He did not want to shine; and for this very reason his flame burned the brighter. Oh that you had known him the simple, plain, modest

man, who had no confidence in himself;but when from the pulpit he sounded his trumpet he was like a lion; and in conversation he burned and flamed like a torch; and then, as if he were nothing, he hastened to retire to his closet, and there, the whole night through, watched and prayed for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, because he knew it was not he that wrought, but that it was only the Holy Spirit, who, in and through him, could give light and life, and lead into all truth."

In reviewing this narrative, it will appear to many surprising, that a man who so firmly held, and so faithfully preached, the great truths of the gospel, should have continued to the end of his life in the Roman Catholic church. That he was conscientious in doing so, is proved, not only by his whole character and conduct, but also by the fact, that he might, by leaving the Romish church, and entering one of the Protestant churches of Germany, not only have passed his life in peace, but have attained an object still dearer to his heart-that of preaching the gospel freely and without molestation. Two of his fellow-labourers and sharers in his afflictions, Gossner and Lindl, carrying out their principles to their legitimate results, openly embraced the Protestant faith; and the former of them has for many years laboured with great success as pastor of the Bohemian church at Berlin. A considerable number, also, of

Boos's converts in Austria, after his banishment from them, finding that they must either relinquish their obedience to Christ, or renounce their allegiance to the Romish church, chose the better path; and, after for a time enduring great trials, and severe assaults upon their faith, they at last obtained permission from the government to form a Protestant congregation, and to worship God according to their consciences. How, then, was it that one who really held so many Protestant principles, who was such a lover of his Lord and of his word, should still have remained in a church. which has departed so widely from the Scriptures, and from whose tyrannous and persecuting spirit he was himself so great a sufferer?

Much may doubtless be ascribed to the influence of education and early association, which made him unwilling to abandon a church in which (as he says in a letter, written near the close of his life) he had been "born and bred, and had been bedewed with the influences of grace, and of the knowledge of Christ:" though (as he further states in the same letter) he saw much in her with which he was displeased; and the severe persecutions with which she had visited him for preaching the doctrine of justification by faith, had caused the most painful struggles in his mind. But he was unwilling on that account, unless he

The celebrated prince Hohenloe visited them, and endeavoured to prevail upon them to return to the Roman Catholic church, but in vain.